Return to work after COVID-19: an international perspective

Among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 around the world, there is a substantial number who would need support in finding their way back to meaningful and productive work. The aims of this paper are to demonstrate the multitude of factors that shape return to work (RTW) practices across and within several countries, and argue for the need to explore RTW from an international perspective during an on-going pandemic, focusing on working age adults who have recovered from COVID-19. Conditions for RTW differ across countries. Occupational therapy has a central role in medical rehabilitation after injury and illness (including COVID-19), but the occupational therapy community has, to the best of our knowledge, yet to raise awareness and advance evidence regarding its role in post-COVID RTW processes. A robust evidence-based knowledge on RTW that can be utilised by occupational therapists during the present and future pandemics is needed.

Automated summary

There is a significant number of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 globally and need assistance in returning to meaningful and productive work. This study aims to demonstrate the various factors that affect return to work practices in different countries and emphasizes the importance of exploring this topic from an international perspective during an ongoing pandemic. Occupational therapy plays a crucial role in medical rehabilitation after COVID-19, but its contribution to post-COVID return to work processes has not been widely acknowledged. There is a need for evidence-based knowledge on return to work that can be utilized by occupational therapists during present and future pandemics.